Using school safety marshals isn't the answer

Thursday

Feb 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The tragic deaths of 20 children along with six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December put guns in the forefront of the national discussion. Sometimes it takes a horrific crime to force people to take a stand on contentious issues like gun control. One interesting fallout from the Newtown tragedy has been the divergent views about the role of guns in American society, with one side arguing for more restrictions on guns and the other side seeking wider availability.

The tragic deaths of 20 children along with six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December put guns in the forefront of the national discussion. Sometimes it takes a horrific crime to force people to take a stand on contentious issues like gun control. One interesting fallout from the Newtown tragedy has been the divergent views about the role of guns in American society, with one side arguing for more restrictions on guns and the other side seeking wider availability.President Obama is leading the push to place some limits on guns, especially a ban on assault weapons. The National Rifle Association takes the opposite position and argues against limits, often citing the Second Amendment. The debate plays out on The Dispatch's opinion page through letters to the editor and columns as well.State Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Davidson, has also entered the fray. Bingham introduced a bill in the General Assembly that would place "school safety marshals" in schools if local boards of education so chose. The marshals would have to be certified and trained and meet a minimum level of firearms training in crisis situations. Legislators in other states have introduced similar bills that would put more guns into schools by allowing teachers and other personnel to carry them.One positive aspect of Bingham's bill is the decision would be left to local school boards, rather than be mandated from a state level. The emphasis on training also heads down the right path. But overall the bill is a bad idea that needs to die in committee.Many schools already have school resource officers patrolling them. A better route would be for the state to authorize funding for school systems to increase the number of SROs in schools, especially in elementary schools and middle and high schools that now share an officer. Asking local systems or counties to fund an increase would wreak already constrained budgets.The risk of innocent bystanders being hit by gunfire in a shootout between an intruder and a school safety marshal can't be ignored. Yes, that could also happen with an SRO. But an SRO is a trained professional who would be best equipped to make decisions about the use of deadly force. Others worry about an authorized gun falling into the wrong hands in a school or being used inappropriately, also valid concerns.Most Americans are looking for a silver lining to come from the Newtown tragedy. One that is already occurring involves the dialogue taking place about tough issues like gun control, mental health, violent video games and school safety. So Bingham deserves credit for playing a role in that debate. But a better focus would be finding ways to keep guns from making it into schools in the first place rather than allowing more inside the walls.